Family resources
How to Get Your CRN & Apply for CCS
New to Child Care Subsidy? Start here.
Child Care Subsidy (CCS) helps eligible families with the cost of approved child care.
To get everything ready for your First5Years enrolment, you'll need to:
- make sure you have a Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN)
- apply for Child Care Subsidy
- provide First5Years with your CRN and your child's CRN
We'll walk you through it.
Want to understand how CCS is actually worked out? Read our plain-English guide to Child Care Subsidy.
Do you already have a CRN?
A Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) is your unique Centrelink number.
You may already have one if you have previously received a Centrelink payment or service.
You can usually find your CRN:
- in your Centrelink online account
- on correspondence from Centrelink
- on a Centrelink concession card, if you have one
Your CRN stays with you, even if you haven't used Centrelink for some time.
What about my child's CRN?
Your child may already have a CRN if you have previously claimed a Centrelink payment or service for them.
If your child doesn't yet have a CRN, don't worry. You can begin the CCS claim process and Centrelink will guide you through what is required.
Don't have or know your CRN?
The quickest way to get a CRN is through myGov.
Start in myGov
- Sign in to your myGov account.
- Select View and link services or Link a service.
- Find Centrelink and select Link.
- When asked if you have or know your CRN, select No.
- Follow the prompts to verify your identity.
Centrelink may ask you to verify your identity before establishing or locating your Centrelink record.
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Apply for Child Care Subsidy
Once Centrelink is linked to your myGov account:
- Sign in to myGov.
- Open Centrelink.
- Select Payments and claims.
- Select Claims, then Make a claim.
- Under Families, select Get started.
- Select the Family Assistance claim option that includes Child Care Subsidy.
- Follow the prompts to complete and submit your claim.
Centrelink will ask for information about your family and child and may request supporting documents.
Check your information carefully before submitting your claim.
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Provide your CRNs to First5Years
Once available, please provide our Centre team with:
- Your CRN
- Your child's CRN
Please make sure the names and CRNs you provide us match exactly what appears in Centrelink.
This helps ensure the enrolment First5Years submits matches your Centrelink records.
What happens next?
Once:
- your CCS claim has been approved
- First5Years has submitted your child's enrolment
- and you have confirmed that enrolment through Centrelink
CCS can begin being paid to First5Years and applied to your childcare fees.
Need a hand?
CCS and Centrelink can feel confusing the first time around.
If you're not sure what you need to do next, our Centre team is happy to point you in the right direction.
First5Years Family Resources